Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-05
A SCRAP OF HISTORY,
Justice Fields Story of An Attempt to
Assassinate Him,


Assassinate Him.
tCoprlg1t, 1887. by The California 1ssoc;atei Press
WASHINGTON, November 4th.-rSpecial. I
The only case in which bona fide at
tempt was ever made on the life of a pres
ent member of the Supreme Court, with
an internal machine, is related in little
book published for private circulation only
and entitled, Personal "reminiscences of
Early Days in California, with Other
Sketches" by Mr.. Justice Stephen J. Field,
ia the following words:
In October, 1865 l proceeded, as usual, to
Washington to attend the then approaching
term of the Supreme Court, and thought no
more of the case until my attention was called
Just before leaving San Francisco Mr.. Rulofson,
photographer of note. requested me to sit for
my phstograph, expressing a desire to add it to
his gallery. consented, and a photograph of
large size was taken. As was leaving his room
he observed that he intended to make some
pictures of small size from it, and would send
me few copies. On the morning of the 18th
of January following at Washington, Delos
Lake, a lawyer of distinction in California. at
one time q District Judge of the State, and
then District Attorney of the United States
joined me, remarking as he did so that the ar
rival of the California steamer at New York
had been telegraphed, and he hoped that l bad
received some letters for him, as he had di-
rected his letters to be forwarded to my care
had not brought my mail, but if he would ac-
company me there he would probably find it.
Accordingly we proceeded to my room, where,
on a comfortable, lay my mail from California
consisting OF a large number of letters and pa
pers. Among them ! noticed a small package
about an inch and a half thick three inches in
BREADTH, and three and half in length. 1t
was addressed as follows, the words being
printed;
Hon. Stephen ]. Field, Washington, D. c.,
per steamer"
If hon FL, ..E.t O..
office upon the address. My name had evil
IDENTIFY been cut from the California Reports,
but the words Washington, ID. c." and "per
steamer" had been taken from newspaper.
The slips were pasted on the package. On the
opposite side were the words, in print, ' From
Geo. Il. Johnsons Pioneer Gallery, 665 and 669
Clay street, San Francisco.
As l took up the package ] remarked ha
this must come from Ruiofson. No imme-
diately added, "Rulofson has nothing TO do
with the Pioneer Gallery" 1t then occurred
to me that it
MIGHT BE A CHRISTMAS PRESENT
For my wife, recoilecting at the moment that
the mail came by the steamer which sailed
from San Francisco about Christmas time. at
may be" said TO myself " q Christmas present
for my wife. will open it just far enough to
see, and If it be intended for her will close il
and forward it to New York." where she was at
the time accordingly tore off the covering
and raised the lid just far enough to enable me
to look inside. was at once struck with the
Lake y l said, addressing myself to nv friend.
Judge Lake looked over my shoulder into the
the box. as held it in my hands and at once
exclaimed
''IT Is A ToRPEDol DON'T OPEN TTr
was startled by the suggestion, for the idea
of torpedo was the last thing in the world to
occur to me. / Immediately laid the package
on The sill of the window, when it was subjected
TO careful inspection by us both, so far as il
could be made with the lid only an eighth of an
| inch open. Soon afterwards Judge Lake took
the package to the Capitol, which was directly
opposite my room, and to the Office of the Clerk
| the deputies.
They dipped the package into water and lef,
| It TO soak for some minutes They then took
1t into the carriage-way under the steps leading
TO- the Senate chamber, and shieldidg them.
selves behind one of the columns, threw the
| box against the wall. The blow broke the
hinge of the lid and exposed the contents of the
murderous contrfyance.
IT WAS A vERITABLE INTERNAL MACHINE
Twelve cartridges, such as are used in com.
mon pistol, about an inch in length lay i'm.
| bedded in q paste of some kind, covered with
Illuminating powder and so connected with q
punch OF friction matches, strip of sandpapeI
ana piece OF linen attached to the lid that OF
| opening the box the matches would be ignifed
and the whole explode.
Tne package was sent to the War Department
| aud the officials returned detailed account o.
the contents of the package. Between the out
SIDE covering and the box there were two ol
three folds OF tissue paper, placed there no
! doubt to prevent the possibility of an explosion
| from stamping at the Postoffice or the striking
| against other packages during the voyage On
the inside OF the lid wss pasted slip cut from
| san Francisco paper dated October 81, 1861
stating that on the day previous ! had decided
case of the city against the United States, in.
voiying its claim 70 four square leagues of land
| and giving opening lines of my opinion.
The writer goes on to say that General
Halleck. then in command at San Fran
SEQ. under instructions from the Secretary
Of War, put detectives Of bis department